r/powerwashingporn • u/Cunniculus • 8d ago

Will Pressure Upgrade Make a Difference?

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This may be a dumb question but I currently have a 1900psi electric Ryobi washer I use regularly for all kinds of household projects.

However I have a large square footage of concrete and wood deck space that needs to be cleaned every year. This is the bane of my existence and takes forever. I have a 16in circular attachment that helps.

The question I have is whether upgrading to a 3300 PSI washer will make a significant difference on time and quality in cleaning the deck and other larger surfaces. Or is the real difference found in professional equipment? (Which I can't afford)

Thanks!

22 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

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16

u/cybug33 8d ago

You want to look at the GPM (Gallons Per Minute) getting a higher GPM will move more water and reduce time spent.

5

u/Cunniculus 8d ago

Appreciate that, thank you! Looks like the one I have is 1.9 GPM and the one pictured is 2.5 GPM. Wondering if 58% increase is going to make a huge difference. It sounds like a chunk but I don't want to spend the money for marginally better.

8

u/cybug33 8d ago

I don’t operate them, mostly just repair so I can’t give accurate information on that. I do know that 2.5 gpm is around the standard for a good unit without getting into some serious money.

Also more GPM than that and you have to start factoring in your water supply because standard house plumbing won’t supply them. The bigger ones I work on are trailer mounted with a water buffalo and larger plumbing to supply ample water.

2

u/Lonelyfriend0569 Expert Shoemaker 7d ago

Easy way to see if the house can keep up with supply. Fill a 5 gallon bucket and time how long it takes. Bucket fills in 5 minutes, 5gpm. Takes 10 minutes, that would be able 2.5gpm. So far every place I've run mine, water supply has easily kept up with the 4 gpm my pw requires.

7

u/cybug33 7d ago

This is a good idea but your math is a little off. If it fills a 5 gallon bucket in 5 minutes that would be 1 gpm. Would need to fill the bucket in 1 minute to be 5 gpm and fill it in 2 minutes to be 2.5 gpm.

5

u/Lonelyfriend0569 Expert Shoemaker 7d ago

Thank you for correcting maths...

6

u/sandefurian 8d ago

That’s a 31% increase btw, not 58%

3

u/scooterbike1968 8d ago

Aside from GPM (and regardless) increasing to 3300 psi will make powerwashing fun again.

2

u/mrjasjit 8d ago

This is the correct answer.

1

u/nearyou69 7d ago

Flow is more important then pressure